Agriculture accounts for ~48% of greenhouse gas emissions in NZ, with both methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accounting for most (36.5% and 6% respectively) of these emissions. The lab is interested in how microbiomes contribute to this, and we use agricultural habitats (e.g. soils, plants and ruminants) as model systems to understand, amongst other questions:
i) What controls microbial community assembly and successions
ii) How changes in microbiomes and farm practices affect emissions
iii) How changes in microbiomes and farm practices affect C sequestration
The labs work has demonstrated that unaccounted for microbes and pathways control greenhouse gas emissions. Our work is elucidating the ecological rules controlling community responses to N deposition [in collaboration with NZ based and international partners]. This research is leading the way with an innovative approach using whole community data and ecological theory. The work combines soil biology, microbial ecology, molecular techniques, next generation sequencing and 'omic' approaches in order to provide a holistic approach to this globally relevant problem. This work is in collaboration with both New Zealand and international partners:
NZ:
AgResearch: Cecile de Klein,Tony van der Weerden, Graeme T. Attwood, Nikola PalevichLincoln University: Prof Tim CloughScion: Steve WakelinLandcare Research: Gwen-Aëlle GreletUniversity of Otago: Prof Greg Cook International:Norwegian University of Life Science UMB Nitrogen Group: Prof Lars Bakken, Prof Åsa Frostegård, Dr. Peter DörschTeagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority-Ireland: Gary Lanigan, Karl Richards, Fiona Brennan Monash University: Assoc Prof Chris Greening
Over the last 7 years we have developed the MOTS (Munida Microbial Observatory Time-Series) project, creating a long-term ecological research site focused on time series analysis of microbial communities within marine water masses in the NZ Subtropical Frontal Zone. Our research site is the only long-term study site in the Southern Ocean and the longest running study across any frontal zone in the world. Our work also explores microbial communities in southern waters including Antarctica and the impact of climate change on them.
This work is in collaboration with both New Zealand and international partners:
NZ: NIWA: Kim Currie, Cliff LawUniversity of Otago: Department of Marine Science: Prof Miles Lamare, Evelyn Armstrong, Prof Chris Hepburn International: University of Vienna: Assoc Prof Federico BaltarMonash University: Assoc Prof Chris GreeningUniversity of Exeter: Assoc Prof Ben Temperton